The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) promotes coordination and cooperation among federal departments and agencies conducting disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research including programs relating to assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design. It is chaired by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research and includes 17 statutory member agencies.

ICDR Collects Public Comment on
Draft Government Wide Strategic Plan

Participation and input from stakeholders has been important throughout the process of developing the initial Draft Government Wide Strategic Plan for FY 2017-2020. The draft plan was published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2016 and was open for comments through November 4, 2016. During the comment period, the ICDR received input from individuals, coalitions, and government entities. These comments were compiled and sent to the Executive Committee to review in early December.

The changes made to the strategic plan based on public comment were minimal. Most edits and additions were made to the background section, primarily for clarification purposes. The input was reflected in the version that the Executive Committee reviewed during their December meeting.

A formal document highlighting and addressing each of the comments received will be included as a supplement to the final strategic plan for future ICDR reference.

Executive Committee Continues Work on Government Wide Strategic Plan at December Meeting

The ICDR Executive Committee met on December 7, 2016 to conclude discussions on the final strategic plan and identify how the ICDR will move forward to implement it. As part of this discussion, the ICDR Chair reviewed the results of the public comment period with the committee. The committee discussed finalizing the strategic plan and the next steps required for agency approval.

The ICDR will be reaching out through formal channels to designate agencies and partners for formal clearance and approval of the strategic plan. Currently, the ICDR statutory members and co-chairs are determining the agency approval process in order to move the strategic plan forward.

The committee has set tentative 2017 meetings dates:

March 7, 2017

June 6, 2017

September 12, 2017

December 5, 2017

Working Group Co-Chairs Setting Agenda
for the Coming Year

Co-chairs from the working groups have been working throughout November, December, and January. The co-chairs are convening to discuss their working group’s agenda for the coming year, and to begin identifying goals, objectives, and outcomes that will contribute to the overall mission of the ICDR. The working group activities will be action-oriented based on the objectives of the strategic plan.

Activities may focus on the following areas, as outlined in the strategic plan:

The Assistive Technology and Universal Design working group scope includes research, design, development, policy, systems, and services related to AT, accessibility of electronic information and technology, products, and environments.

The Community Integration and Participation working group scope includes research, policy, systems, and services related to behavioral, social, and environmental factors affecting inclusion in society.

The Employment and Education working group scope includes research, policy, systems, and services related to employment and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities; and youth transition to employment, post-secondary education, and community life.

The Government Wide Inventory working group is charged with developing the WIOA-mandated government-wide inventory of disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research.

The Health, Functioning, and Wellness working group scope includes research, clinical, translational, policy, systems, and services related to medical rehabilitation, prevention, health and wellness care, public health issues, and surveillance.

Once all working group co-chairs have met and the strategic plan has been fully vetted, implementation l will begin.

Federal Rehabilitation Research Roundtable: Optimizing the Investment in Medical Devices for Rehabilitation

The ICDR hosted a roundtable with the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) on January 12, 2017 to support the planning of an upcoming workshop focused on promoting translation and increasing the return on investment for federally funded medical devices for rehabilitation. John Tschida, ICDR Chair, and Alison Cernich, NCMRR Director, led the meeting.

During this meeting, agency representatives discussed current challenges and opportunities in rehabilitation device development to identify areas for collaboration and information sharing. The group will continue to meet to discuss current collaborations among agencies that are helping to streamline the processes resulting in successful development of devices or technology that result in commercialization or widespread adoption.

The Interagency Committee on Disability Research is maintained by New Editions Consulting, Inc. and funded through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL), under Contract No. ED-OSE-12-C-0054. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of HHS/ACL/NIDILRR, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.